After one of the most contentious election cycles in recent memory, many Americans see a country divided.
This election season has seen partisanship at its worst. Passions have turned ugly as voters fought over their differences to get their preferred candidates elected. For candidates and voters alike, the day after Election Day cannot come soon enough.
But as election season comes to an end and a new president comes to office, it is important to remember the reason for all of this election-year tension and controversy: It is to build a more perfect union. It is to work together on our goals.
When we vote, we select the men and women who will be our voice in our government. We are calling on them to stand up for our values and represent our views. Whether they are here in Indianapolis or in Washington, we elect them to get to work and get things done.
Hoosiers look at their communities and see serious problems that need to be addressed, like security, economic and social issues. We all want stronger schools, higher paying jobs, more affordable housing and safer streets. We want a trustworthy government that works for the people rather than for partisan victories.
While we may have different approaches to these issues, making real progress means looking across the aisle and seeing fellow public servants, not partisan opponents. It means rejecting gridlock and finding consensus. We must accept that no party has a monopoly on good ideas or credit for progress.
Our founders enshrined this belief in our national motto, E Pluribus Unum — Out of Many, One. This unity is what brought about our greatest accomplishments and helped us to become the most powerful nation the world has ever seen. From the Civil War to the civil rights movement, we have seen moments of greater division than we see today, and we have come together to move forward stronger.
As we approach Election Day, we need to do so with our sights on unity. We will all face some excitement and some disappointment as we watch election results come in, but we cannot let these feelings diminish our shared desire to see progress for our families, our communities and our country.
As your representative in Congress, I stand ready for unity and action. In the end, we all win when our leaders and people of all political persuasions come together to get things done.
